CHAPTER NINETEEN #2
“Thank you.” She zips up the small pouch and tosses it at me to pack in her bag. “Also, it’s not going to go back to exactly how it was. Even in the fairy tale, the prince comes back around. Things do change. They don’t stay enchanted. But they don’t stay how they were before the magic either.”
“True.” I point at the closet when I notice her searching the hooks by her door. “I put your team jacket in there after I washed it.”
She nods, mouthing the words ‘thank you’ again before she retrieves it and slides it on. “He’s coming back, you know.” She zips her jacket up halfway and takes a few steps toward me.
“I know he said he booked a flight already, but I don’t want us to count on that. When he leaves here, we need to just be okay with letting him go without planning on him coming back.”
“Why?”
“Look, I know that we’ve all enjoyed this little break from reality, and right now, none of us can imagine going back to how things were before.
” I sigh. “But the truth is, that Knox’s life is nothing like ours.
He travels non-stop. And when he’s not traveling, he’s recording.
And when he’s not recording, he’s doing interviews and appearances.
And no matter how much he wants to be with us, he can’t be all those places and here with us at the same time. ”
She takes another step toward me. Her eyes are locked on mine.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen her more serious.
“The prince found Cinderella again because she left him a glass slipper that fit only her foot. How can you believe in something so insane, but not believe in Knox?” She leans toward me, reaches out her hand to squeeze my arm and grins. “He’s coming back.”
She doesn’t expect an answer. Or maybe she just doesn’t want one. Either way, she takes her dance bag from my hand and skips out of the door and down the stairs.
Shortly after, we’re on the road, headed for the theater.
All talk of Knox and fairy tales is forgotten while we argue about what music to play and engage in heated rants about a participating studio’s constant use of the word ‘sassy’ and how really, they mean ‘sexy’, and how offensive that is.
Not to mention inappropriate, given some of their performing dancers are as young as nine years old.
Once we arrive, we totally switch gears, both of us going into performance mode in our own way.
Between setting up, and running last minute rehearsals, time flies. Before we know it, the show is starting.
“They got really good seats,” Sloan whispers to me in the wings.
“I peeked through at the end of the curtain and saw them. Grandma, Grandpa and Knox. They’re in the second row, almost in the center.
” She’s practically glowing she’s so thrilled.
Then her smile falters slightly. “I got a text from Daddy. He’s here too. But I can’t see where he’s sitting.”
“Oh.” I force a semi-delighted expression. “Good. I’m glad he made it.”
“Uh-huh.” She rolls her eyes. “The one time I didn’t actually want him to come, and he shows up. Without being asked.”
“He’s making an effort.” That’s probably not entirely true.
If I had to guess, I’d say he’s only here because he was worried Knox would be.
After the way those two met, I’m sure it’s been making Ebeneezer crazy knowing another man might be taking up space in our lives where he once did.
Especially one who stood up to him and took the control right out of his hands.
He’ll punish me for that at some point down the road. I know he will. But I’m not worried like I used to be. He has far less weapons in his arsenal to point at me these days.
Sloan shakes off all thoughts of her father and rejoins her friends, already lining up to go on stage.
Minutes later, the curtains are drawn, the stage lights are on, music is playing, and the dancers are bringing art to life.
Watching from the side, hidden by the curtain, I’m able to watch her entire solo.
She’s amazing.
She’s always amazing, but today, watching her shine out there, drinking in the spotlight and returning its radiance, moves me to tears.
At the end, I dare a glance into the audience.
My mom is wiping her eyes too. She always does though.
She’s a sucker for seeing Sloan on stage.
Then I see Knox. And he looks like I feel.
And seeing it, makes my heart burst into a million beautiful but painful pieces.
Because in fourteen years, I’ve never had someone to share that feeling with.
No one who looks at her the way I do. Not even her own father could ever relate to me on this one, should have been natural , thing.
Unable to avert my eyes, I pull back my entire body until the scene is out of view. Then, blinking away tears, I turn and march for the dressing rooms to change the next kid into their next costume. Because, you know, the show must go on, and all that.
Almost two hours later, the show is over, backstage is cleaned up, and Sloan and I are walking out to meet everyone.
My parents are the first to embrace Sloan, showering her in hugs and bouquets and loads of compliments. Meanwhile, my ex is busy chatting up Knox like they’re old pals.
“We should do dinner. Are you all free?” Ebeneezer asks tentatively, looking at me like he’s worried I might say no. Like I’m the old shrew who’s always going around killing everyone’s good time.
I look to Sloan who shrugs. “Can we go to Stefani’s? I could go for their fried mozzarella sticks right about now.”
“Yes!” Her dad claps his hands together. “That’s a great idea.” He turns to Knox. “You like Italian?”
“Who doesn’t like Italian?”
My ex grabs his shoulder and shakes it like they’re friends from way back when. Knox is going along with it, but every time our eyes meet, I swear I can read the four-letter words shooting off inside his mind.
“My man.” Ebeneezer laughs. “Mama!” He hasn’t called my mother that in years. This is one hell of a show he’s putting on. “You guys joining us?”
My stepfather, the only one my ex hasn’t attempted to charm so far (probably because he knows Javier won’t be near as nice about his bullshit as everyone else is being), answers for them. “We’ll come to dinner.”
“Can I ride with you guys?” Sloan asks, scooting in between her grandparents, just in case her father had any ideas about suggesting she make the trip to Stefani’s with him in his car.
“Of course.”
With plans set, we all start making our way outside.
Knox casually escapes my ex and sidles in along Sloan, handing her a small bouquet of white roses he’s been holding this whole time.
He leans down, saying things to her I can’t make out, but know must be pretty special based on the smile that starts on her lips and grows all the way to her eyes.
He hugs her to his side, bending down to kiss the top of her head. “I mean it,” he tells her. “Every word.”
He releases her, smiles at my mother, and makes his way over to me. “She’s amazing,” he murmurs against my ear before kissing my cheek. “She gets it from you, you know.”
“I think that’s debatable, but I think it’s sweet you think so.” I rest my head against his shoulder while we walk, all the running around of the last few hours suddenly catching up with me. Or maybe it’s just the reality of what’s coming, or rather, what’s going, come tomorrow morning.
“Knox,” my ex calls out as we all start to spread out in the parking lot, heading to our own vehicles.
“Kenley can meet us there. She’s no fun after shows anyway.
Has to unwind in silence.” He hooks his thumb toward his car a few spaces over.
“We can listen to that recording I was telling you about on the way there.”
“Oh, God,” I groan into Knox’s shirt so no one else can hear. “Don’t tell me he wants you to listen to his cousin’s blue grass band.”
“Yep.” Then he turns toward Ebeneezer. “I’m going to drive the truck.
Kenley’s exhausted and I don’t want her left alone doing something I could do for her to offer her a little ease after taking care of everyone’s little dancers all night.
” Knox waves for him to go ahead. “I’ll have a listen later. You can always send me the file.”
Then Knox turns us abruptly, breaking all possibilities for eye contact with my ex and making it entirely possible to ignore him as we walk away to the truck while he continues to try and sway Knox.
“Dinner is going to be fun,” he mutters dryly.
“You have no idea.” But I do. I know all of Ebeneezer’s games, and this one, I find particularly bothersome. Mostly, because it still makes me anxious. Even after all this time.